Studio 54 is where all of the starlets and moguls of New York City spent their nights, partying and networking all the while experiencing some of the cities most incredibly citizens. These are rare photos that rarely come out of the vault, with stars like Mick Jagger and Sylvester Stallone frequenting them quite a bit! Let’s head back into one of the most short-lived iconic clubs known.
Sasha & Sylvester Stallone
The Rocky actor is pictured here with his first wife during one of their many escapades at the disco club. A year prior to this photo, Stallone had just been nominated for two Academy Awards for Rocky. He was living his peak as Rocky, partying it up!
The Diana Ross
Ross is pictured totally in her element! The disco club was the perfect soundscape for the incredible artist. She initially made her debut with The Supremes in the 1960s before branching off on her extremely successful solo career in the 1970’s.
Rod Stewart & Steve Rubell
Steve Rubell is a founder and co-owner of Studio 54. His main goal was to keep it glamorous as possible with top guests showing up each night. He is quoted saying, “The key to a good party is filling a room with guests more interesting than you.” Very true! As you can see, he definitely kept his word and filled the rooms each night with incredible people. Just look at Rod Stewart!
Gilda Radner
Here is the lovely Gilda Radner enjoying a night out in NYC. She was one of the original cast members of SNL, known for her hilarious pointed comedy and easily enjoyable sketches. She was a success on Broadway with her one-woman show until she passed away from ovarian cancer in 1989.
Michael Jackson Performing
Yep, that’s MJ! The pop icon frequented the club among the disco lovers. Who would want a show from the Michael Jackson?
Robin Williams
This is when Williams was just 27 years old, on the cusp of his prominent acting career. Mork and Mindy had just aired, and he was beginning to attain his fame! Williams was on the way to his opening party at the club to celebrate his newfound fame.
Brooke Shields & Mariel Hemingway
These two very young actors are hanging out in the esteemed Studio 54. They are both well known for their young age and fame, as well as starring in some controversial films and working with some sketchy people. Sheilds is still a personality and Hemingway works on yoga and holistic healing.
Grace Jones
Famous Bond Girl Grace Jones was a huge part of Studio 54, gracing the club with her outlandish outfits that were made to question. She was always stunning people left and right with a huge smile on her face!
Diane Von Furstenberg & Barry Diller
The famous fashion designer is casually lounging with her media then mogul boyfriend in the studio. They were obviously making themselves very comfortable at the club, despite the fact that it was very much, in fact, a club. Diller and von Fuerstenberg married in 2001.
Liza Minelli
The contralto singer is decked out in purple sparkles at the club. She was obviously there to have a good time!
Doorman to the Club
19-year-old Marc Benecke got the final say in who gets into the club. The kid, who wasn’t even legal to drink yet, was making sure the best of the best got into the club and the rest stayed out. After this gig, he ended up opening a bunch of bars and getting into real estate!
Dancing the Night Away
The club was best known for his sexual promiscuity and open drug use. As people were getting their use out of the drugs and alcohol that were available, they were able to create insane stories behind the closed doors of Studio 54. That’s what made it fun, right?
The Iconic Sign
The sign itself became an icon for the exclusive club. The ’54’ shone brightly on the street, calling all of its potential club goers to just try and get in.
Woody Allen and Michael Jackson
What an unlikely duo! The two stars were relaxing in the club as if it were home. The two were young starlets at the moment, way before any scandals began to broke about them.
Fleur Thiemeyer & Elton John
The famous costume designer is seen here mingling with a young Elton John. The two are both known for their eccentric tastes and wild style. Here, the two are at the famous premiere party for Grease.
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop
This woman is tired from dancing, but that’s not going to stop her! She was just another face in the crowd of starlets, so she for sure was going to dance the night away.
Steve Rubell & Ian Shrager
The two faces behind the iconic club! Here, the two owners are pictured on the opening night in May, 1977.
Wild Party Goers
New York City is obviously known for its eccentrics. This fantastic trio is dancing the night away in their awesome outfits and… cat tail? Whatever they’re doing, I’m here for it.
Crowding Around The Club
People mobbed the place just to try and get in. They were dressed to dance the night away with their favorite stars. This is what it looked like every night it was open!
Liza Minelli & Mikhail Baryshnikov
This pair doesn’t look graceful, and if you didn’t know who it was, you’d think they were both just some talentless hacks! Baryshnikov was an incredible dancer and choreographer. Liza was such a regular at the club, you just had to get a dance in with her!
DJ Booth Views
The club had a great mix of using a DJ and having live performances. This is what a real disk jockey looks like!
Halston
This is the designer Halston, who just went by his first name (that’s just how famous he was). He was best known for his minimalist and clean designs which were all the rage back in the 70s. His outfits were also very popular for clubs such as Studio 54.
Wild Dancing
Sights like this were not uncommon! People loved to dance the night away.
Wide View of the Club
The club was also filled to the brim, just like this photo shows. The more elite folk hung around on the balcony, watching over the dancing crowd.
New Years Eve Party
This is a wild celebrity-filled party! From left to right we have Halston, Bianca Jagger, and Andy Warhol. Behind them are Jack Haley Jr. and Liza Minelli (we told you she loves this place!)
Taking Disco to a Whole New Level
This guy literally dressed up as a disco ball! Looks like this were never unnoticed, and always appreciated! It must have been a little hard to move around in this get-up, but it was definitely worth it!
The Same Trio Back At It
Here’s this group of friends once again with that weird cat tail! They seem to be having a good time, though.
Ara Gallant and Diane von Furstenberg
We’ve got quite the crowd for Egon von Furstenberg’s book party! The royal published his book ‘The Power Look’ in 1978 and held the awesome party at Studio 54. This was Diane’s first experience of the club, and she kept coming back for more!
Massive Crowds
This was truly just a sea of drunk party goers. Everyone wanted to make memories at the infamous Studio 54.
Yep, That’s the Titanic
On the New Years Eve party to ring in 1975, the studio brought in a model of the Titanic. Why? Because it’s Studio 54, of course they would have some outlandish decor!
Needing to Get In
Even on the coldest of nights, people were lined up at the door! You can even see the women decked out in their most expensive furs just to keep warm in an attempt to get into the club.
Lorna Luft, Jerry Hall, Andy Warhol, Debbie Harry, Truman Capote, and Paloma Picasso
What a group this is! The group is celebrating the Interview Party in 1979. All of these folks were regulars and were always at the club.
Mick Jagger
Here is Jagger pictured at his wife’s, Bianca, birthday party. They were married in 1971 and got divorced in 1979 when Mick was caught having an affair of Jerry Hall (who also frequented the club!) Jagger now has eight children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
No Liquor License!
The first year Studio 54 was open, the owners did not have a liquor license. They were able to purchase daily permits for caterers, not for nightclubs, which they eventually did get caught with. They were closed for one night but they opened the very next day. They were not able to sell alcohol that night.
Drag is Welcome Here!
Who doesn’t love a good drag queen? Studio 54 had many queens grace its dancefloor each night! Divine and the Dame Rollerena were both very popular queens that loved the club as much as the rest of the patrons. The Dame even took things to the next level and roller skated all around the club.
Disco Dancers
This was the first night the club was open! They had hired awesome disco dancers to start the legacy off on the right foot. This night alone is what made this club so successful!
Liza Minelli & Steve Rubell
There’s that Liza again! These two were very good pals. Since Liza was a resident of NYC, she was there quite often with her friend Rubell!
Disco & Hippie
People from all walks of life went to Studio 54. It was very much known for melding the disco scene and the hippie movement all in one place! The club was all about free love, which both sides could easily agree on.
Diane Von Furstenberg & Barry Diller
We here have this adorable couple on yet another night out! “I had more fun at Studio 54 than in any other nightclub in the world,” Furstenberg told Vanity Fair.
Rod Stewart, Steve Rubell, and Alana Hamilton
Rod Stewart was enjoying a night out with his wife, Alana Hamilton, and was able to hang out with the co-owner Steve Rubell (on the left). Rubell was always surrounded by the coolest celebs!
Another Queen
Not every club in New York was so accepting of drag culture (which is a shame!) but Studio 54 loved their queens! It was very often that queens would perform or even hang around every night.
Diane von Furstenberg
We weren’t lying when we said she loved this place! Here is the famous designer again.
Jerry Hall & Diana Vreeland
The model and fashion editor were having some fun and networking at Studio 54. Vreeland has worked for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar in her career. She was added to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1964.
Fun Partygoers
These guys were not celebs, or even DJ’s… They just had the look that the owners of Studio 54 were looking for! Their wild lifestyles and even wilder choices of outfits were what made them stand out to go in.
Liza Minelli, Elizabeth Taylor, Halston, Betty Ford
What an iconic quartet! These four were all dolled up in their sparkles and best dress. They all looked amazing that night! Halston was truly an icon and attracted people from all walks of life. He sadly died from an AID’s complication called Kaposi’s sarcoma.
Eartha Kitt, Yul Brynner, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gloria Swanson
This photo of all of these great legends barely even touches on how many celebrities and starlets went to the club!
Mick & Bianca Jagger
Another photo at Bianca’s famous birthday party. Her 30th birthday party was one of the most iconic of the bunch.
Who Can You See?
There are literally tons of famous faces in this crowd. Can you make out some of them?
Tales of the Club
Here, we have Halston, Bianca, and Mick Jagger. Not much longer after this photo was taken, the couple split up. Bianca claims that the marriage was over within a year of marriage, but they tried to stay together for their daughter. Once they divorced, Mick was already deeply involved with Jerry Hall.
Another Wild Costume
Hollywood talent manager Sandy Gallin said, “In my mind, I remember it as a 10-to-15-year period. In reality, it only lasted two or three years.” It was only 33 months between its opening-night party on April 26, 1977, and the farewell party was thrown for Rubell and Schrager on February 2, 1980.
Paloma Picasso
Another wonderful shot of the daughter of Pablo Picasso.
Only Open for 33 Months
This iconic club was only open for a short 33 months. It was a hazy time with people constantly in and out. They closed due to the owners going to jail for tax evasion.
Martha Graham,Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minelli, First Lady Betty Ford
These glam and powerful women were dressed to the nines!
Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall
The scandal! Little did the public know, the two were in an incredible affair during this photo. Mick was still married to his wife, Bianca.
Valentino’s Birthday Party
Of course, Valentino would have his party here! Here we have Carlos Souza and Lorenzo Villarini wearing some incredible costumes for the occasion.